On April 20● 1889 - Adolf Hitler, the Nazi dictator of Germany who led his country into World War II and was responsible for persecuting and killing millions of Jews and many others, was born in Braunau, Austria.

● 1999 - Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold kill 12 students and a teacher before killing themselves in the Columbine High School massacre in Littleton, Colorado.

At first blush these appear to be unconnected incidents with purely coincidental dates. Unfortunately, video tape statements by Harris and Klebold stated it was no coincidence. They both idolized Hitler and planned for this specific date for their mayhem. They did not intend to survive from the onset. They targeted students they knew to be believers, in some cases asking their victims to recant and then they would be spared. Here they were unlike Hitler since he rarely even gave the illusion of being spared.

I have zero empathy for these two killers. I do however wonder how their sense of history and morality could be so skewed as to make Hitler a hero. My grandparents and parents all lived through World War 2. I never remember them expressing the least bit of approval for Hitler. Their revulsion was total and absolute. This is why my children know my views on Hitler. This is also why my views on the Shrub are so vehement.